RENE SAGUISAG

AS I write, I remember Prez Cory Aquino, who would have marked another birth anniversary on January 25. There was a Mass at Rockwell the other evening, for us Yellowtards, quite proud of the brand. It was to be the anniversary too of the 2015 Mamasapano operation, with a case…

WHY should Prez Digong formally inflict martial law with its downside? It would be admitting that, at variance with his campaign promise, qua candidate, six months would not suffice to bring us to paradise. He now has an elastic, sliding- scale timetable. First an extension of three months, then six,…

Compañero Bryan Dennie Gabito Tiojangco had an interesting commentary of January 5, 2017 (“What lawyers don’t get about Duterte”, PDI, p. A8, col. 2), in seeming dispraise of Duterte critics, of which I am one as a member of the tiny insignificant human rights community. Our most bloodsoaked presidential start…

MAY I thank Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony Gabriel La Viña for kindly appreciating our human rights lawyering efforts in his felicitous yearend Manila Standard column last Saturday. He is the son of Gabriel L. La Viña. Jr., a member of the San Beda law class of 1954, who…

IN 2017, I wish to see Prez Digong marrying Honeylet, to make an honest woman of her, and housing her in Malacañang (and his kulasisis, nearby, if breaking up is really hard to do). The move should save a lot of time and money and arrest an arguable continuing scandal…

CHINA and the United States are the Big Boys, Super-Bullies? China has its irredentist pretensions (e.g., Tibet) and the US, its imperialistic designs (all over). In 1986, the US tried to impose its will here, by sending Philip Habib over in February, to convince one tough Prez-elect Cory to share…

MARENG Winnie Monsod says the people have a right to know Digong’s state of physical and mental health. At times, Digs sounds as unhinged as I, but I am powerless and, therefore, harmless (but not armless, one sweet young thing told Torpe Me once, I dunno why). I am not…

LAST November 30, looking at the names of the latest additions in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani roster, I was incredulous at, and could not believe, the absence of Joker Arroyo’s name. He passed away on October 5, 2015. I dunno, but it must have been his wish not to…

“YOU should not allow compassion and whatever to taint your judgment,” says Prez Digong. But, the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution speaks of a “humane society.” Compassion should inform judgment. FVR says Digong needs to learn more. I may have to agree. The Philippines is not Davao City writ large.…

AFTER I made boundary, he, he, in Antipolo the other afternoon, on our way back, I decided to pass through what may now be called Libingan ng Mandarambong at Bandido-Berdugo, to visit the plot of my pa-in-law, Col. Alfonso Quintans. Security was not what I was used to. Very tight.…